"The benefits of antidepressants is based upon just one probability, one which has been debunked as non-scientific by many academics. The risks of taking antidepressants are reported side effects, including self-harm, suicidal thoughts and suicide completion. And we are **still** told by Dr's, pharmaceutical companies and medicine regulators that the benefits outweigh the risks. This is an incorrect statement.."

Cymbalta is a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor and is notoriously difficult to withdraw from due to it being a capsule filled with tiny beads.

These series of posts are a result of a recent Freedom of Information request made by Andrew Thibault to the American drug regulator, the FDA. Information sent to Thibault is now publicly available ~ I've been sifting through some of the documents.

AERS Case Number 6060757Homicide by female (age 26) The patient was taking Cymbalta (60mg per day) beginning sometime in 2005. She shot and killed her husband. (Click on images to enlarge)

Homicide by male (age 84) The patient was taking Cymbalta (40mg per day) between May 2005 - March 2007.The report shows us that his prescribing physician does not attribute that Cymbalta may have played a part in this homicide. One has to question if this statement was based on scientific fact or just, as I suspect, an assumption. The 84 year-old shot his wife then himself.

Homicide by male (age 15) The patient was taking Cymbalta (30mg per day) for just 13 days before carrying out homicide.

The key points to this murder have been redacted by the FDA in efforts not to identify the 15 year-old male. It does say, however that he shot and killed more than one person.

It was also reported that over the 13 day period when he was taking Cymbalta he suffered hypomania, including agitation, psychic activation (whatever that is?), periods of euphoria and akathesia (feeling of inner restlessness)

Homicide by male (age 42) The patient was taking Cymbalta (unknown dose) he was also being treated with Prozac. Ironically both medications are made by the same company, Eli Lilly.

The report shows how Prozac made him a "happy manic" while Cymbalta would make him "depressed"

The patient killed a person or persons. Some time after this event his wife gave birth but the child died some days after being born. Makes you wonder his his wife was also taking psychiatric medication and if her child died as a result of her taking medication. In essence, this could be a double homicide both caused by medication, prescripticide*, if you will.